During this semester, you will design and carry out your own experiment using the statistical techniques we will discuss in this class. Each student will create a thread on the Discussion Board of BlackBoard and periodically submit drafts of this report as it progresses. This project will be carried out in three stages and will count as of your final grade:

I. The initial concept. Please post your topic as I instruct on the Discussion board on or before January 12^th and before you begin collecting data. I will assist in the formulation of the project once you have, at the very least, identified an area of interest. Choose a project that interests you. The project is a study that requires you to gather data from two samples with sample sizes of at least 30 each on any quantitative variable that you choose. The study involves segregating the data by some categorical variable and testing for the difference between the means for the two groups. The project can be of one of two types:

a. Using existing data. Test to see if the value of a parameter for one population is significantly different from the value for

that parameter for another population. For example, one could test whether house prices in

one NY county are significantly higher than those in another based on a sample of recent sales. (Please don't

use this topic)

b. Using your own data. Design a survey to measure a random variable which you

define. For example, you could test the claim that women spend more time per week on Instagram than men

do. (Don't use this topic either) Use the results of the survey to determine if there is a significant difference in

the population parameters for the two groups.

II. Gathering the data. First, try the library or Internet, then ask me for guidance. If you do survey, I must see the question(s) you will ask before you begin the survey.

III. Writing the report. Here is a description of the components necessary for this five to eight page report:

1. Introduction. What is the question you set out to answer? Describe the population, the

parameter, the statistic, and the sample. Discuss the techniques of statistics that you

will use in analyzing the data.

2. Presentation of the data. List the data that you found. This must be well organized.

Graph the data (histogram?). Describe how you obtained your data. This section is due on January 18^th.

3. Analysis. This must include a hypothesis test or a confidence interval or both. Use the

class notes, the textbook, and your instructor as your primary resources for this

section. Show me all of the work that you do and explain each step that you take as

you go along.

4. Conclusion. What is the answer to the question asked in part 1? How sure are you that

this answer is correct? Was the result surprising in any way or did it confirm what you thought before you

began this research? What are the limitations of the research you conducted?

Although this is a mathematics class, I also expect you to write complete, concise sentences. All papers will be graded using a rubric that includes professional presentation as well as meeting all specifications and deadlines. The report is due January 23^rdat 9 pm. I assume that all of you are aware of policies regarding and expect and require that you cite the ideas and work of others appropriately. I hope that you will use this opportunity to investigate something which interests you, and appreciate the power of statistics to provide support for your opinion on a particular topic of interest.

Has mental health decline and the use of illegal drugs and substances increase since covid-19?

substance abuse and mental health co-relation.

https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/field-uploads-protected/studies/MH-CLD-2020/MH-CLD-2020-datasets/MH-CLD-2020-DS0001/MH-CLD-2020-DS0001-info/MH-CLD-2020-DS0001-info-codebook.pdf